It is true that one of the most important issues that many people of today’s society are very concerned about is the learning outcomes of students. The question of whether teachers should test the knowledge of students by final exams or regular assessments is a controversial one. In my opinion, an intermediate position can be taken. In the following paragraphs, I would give some reasons to support my arguments.
On the one hand, those who are in favor of conventional assessments must have some reasons to support their stand. For one thing, testing at the end of the course will be beneficial for students who can pace themselves well and are well aware of which study method works for them. Hence, they have no pressure and are comfortable with their academics or have enough time to have more understanding of their lessons. Furthermore, if students know they are able to do last-minute cramming, they can do other things earlier in the term that they think will benefit them more. Besides, this freedom to plan for themselves is especially helpful for students who have to work part time to support their studies. Last but not least, from the school’s perspective, final exams may be a good way to test students about the entire syllabus because the results will be more indicative of whether students possess.
On the other hand, there are still people who do not quite advocate this demonstration above and they are also able to come up with arguments to support their arguments. First of all, testing students’ knowledge by regular exams forces them to study more frequently. This will be helpful for those who can not pace themselves and often fail to do last-minute cramming before the final exam. It is evident that breaking down the syllabus to smaller parts for testing also makes it easier for students to remember the ideas being taught. Moreover, these students will also be able to immediately identify their learning gaps after each small test and seek help from teachers before it is too late.
In short, there are many ways to look at different sides of a matter and there have also been opposite opinions on this particular topic. However, I firmly believe that both ways are not as crucial as their awareness and efforts. Whether students are tested by conventional exams or regular assessments, if they commit to achieve a good result and remain disciplined in their studies, they can achieve success.